10 Gulliver’s Travels
Chapter V
The author at his master’s command, informs him of the state
of England. The causes of war among the princes of Europe.
The author begins to explain the English constitution.
T
he reader may please to observe, that the following
extract of many conversations I had with my master,
contains a summary of the most material points which were
discoursed at several times for above two years; his hon-
our often desiring fuller satisfaction, as I farther improved
in the Houyhnhnm tongue. I laid before him, as well as I
could, the whole state of Europe; I discoursed of trade and
manufactures, of arts and sciences; and the answers I gave
to all the questions he made, as they arose upon several sub-
jects, were a fund of conversation not to be exhausted. But
I shall here only set down the substance of what passed be-
tween us concerning my own country, reducing it in order
as well as I can, without any regard to time or other circum-
stances, while I strictly adhere to truth. My only concern
is, that I shall hardly be able to do justice to my master’s
arguments and expressions, which must needs suffer by my
want of capacity, as well as by a translation into our barba-
rous English.
In obedience, therefore, to his honour’s commands, I re-
